In brief: Skyfall Island is real

Every Friday, we help you
navigate the week’s most important and interesting travel news stories.

Upgrade!Amazing things that should happen more often

That
wild, abandoned island in Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie, is real and open
to intrepid travellers. Hashima Island (better known by
its nickname Gunkanjima), is located off the west coast of Japan. [Gakuranman]

Pooch
owners can locate dog-sitters
more easily with booking site DogVacay, also referred to as “Dog
AirBnB”. The site recently raised six million dollars in investments, so people
are expecting big growth from the company. [Slate]

Through
30 April 2013, Virgin America says it will match elite status for qualifying
elite level United
and American
customers in the airline’s equivalent “gold” and “silver” levels. Benefits
include priority boarding and a free checked bag. [USA Today]

In-flight entertainment Photos and videos that went viral on the Web this week

A survey
of 700 cabin crewmembers from 85 countries reveals the most annoying air passenger habits.
The leading gripe, complained about by one out of four flight attendants, is
when travellers snap their fingers to get attention. [The Sydney Morning
Herald]

Ready for takeoffAll set to go, but too soon to tell
what’s ahead

The
Philippines is developing into an international destination for those looking
to learn
English on a budget. In particular, the islands are drawing students from
Iran, Libya, Brazil and Russia who choose to take their courses there for a
fraction of the price as similar ones offered in more expensive countries such
as the UK, US and Australia. [BBC]

TurbulenceHold on folks, we’re in for a rocky ride

The
company that produces London’s instantly recognizable black cabs recently declared
bankruptcy. Manganese Brown’s cabs have been cruising the streets of London
for more than a century, but it is presently unclear what the company’s future
will be. Nissan’s
modernised version of the black cab arrives in 2014. [Time; The Telegraph]

One
of the “worst hotels in the world” — a budget hostel in Amsterdam — has made
the most out of its title by joking about it in promotional materials. The
approach seems to work too; the property has a number of bookings. [ABC]

Many
countries hoping to persuade its citizens to use bicycles look to emulate the
Dutch example. Ironically, there could potentially be too
many bikes on the road in the Netherlands and a lack of infrastructure to
support all the cyclists. [Grist]

CancelledIt’s a no-go

The
European Union has put off enacting a law to limit
carbon emissions from airplanes. Under the proposal, all airlines flying in
and out of the EU would have to be part of a “cap and trade system”. [Grist]

Widespread
anti-austerity protests across Europe this week interrupted travel,
with a number of flights cancelled to destinations like Spain and Portugal.
[BBC]